Page 64 of To Trap a Soul

Weldir felt pressure against his face, mainly his forehead, as if he may have lifted a brow. He did so purposefully, just in case.

“Why can’t you do it?” he asked plainly. “You are the god of force, so why do you need me? I never understood it when I was given this task with Jabeziryth’s portal.”

He’d also never asked, but now that he had the opportunity to do so, he wanted that answer.

“The barricade is only possible on the exit side of the portal, which in this case is the Earth side.” Then he shifted his gaze away as he muttered, “And, although I can create forces like nature and portals, and manipulate gravity, my abilities are not as... proficient with complex artistry. In the same way that Leyfr is best with healing, and giving life to fauna and flora.”

“And my abilities go beyond being a god of death; I’m a controller of my own darkness,” Weldir confirmed, now that someone admitted the truth to him. “I can create realms, can consume souls, and use dust to make whatever I want.”

“Yes. Your sands allow you to reach magical capabilities we just can’t. Your vines are different to Leyfr’s. They can consume, destroy, strangle, and heal – so long as they are in your realm, as you lack a physical self to make them tangible. Your weakness is your incompleteness, but you are able to touch essences because of it at the same time.”

“And since one must take their physical self and spirit self through a portal, I am able to hold one of those from leaving.” Weldir lifted a hand to cease his explanation. “I understand. But how many portals are there? Maintaining just one costs me a great deal of mana, passively enervating me as much as my mist that borders what the humans have begun calling the Veil.”

Rökul’s brows lifted before he turned his gaze to the canyon beside him, no doubt curious about it. “There are thirteen in total, not including the one here you already barricaded. Some of the continents are quite large, and we’ve placed down a few to spread the Daekura out and give the humans a chance to survive.”

Fourteen...Weldir hummed with thought.I think I can manage that, so long as Lindiwe brings me more souls.

His mana had become a deeper well in the past few human years. Even though his own power was finite and nowhere near where he wanted it to be, Weldir couldn’t find a reason to reject Rökul’s request. Instead, he wondered how he could utilise such reach across this large realm.

Each portal I ward will leave my essence behind.Mist he could access – mist he could use.

“I will accept. Just take me to their locations and I will ward them.”

Rökul’s abilities allowed him to make permanent portals at will, with no mana stone required.

The male’s blue eyebrows furrowed in concern, wrinkling his purple forehead, and his lips flattened. “That’s it? You don’t have a request or a demand in exchange?”

His mist spread out from him as tension left him. “No. Why should I? I have no need for anything you can provide me. You cannot give me power, nor true life. What could you possibly gift me?”

Rökul scratched the side of his head right behind his ear and above his left braid. He let out a small, awkward laugh. “Surely there is something your realm needs. I imagine all you do is float there. I can give it an up and a down, a left and a right – gravity. I can give you a one-time use portal. There are many things I can gift you.” Then he placed his hand over his heart. “You wound me, Weldir. I am a powerful god, a holy maker of much. You can rely on your dear uncle.”

Gravity?Weldir looked up to the blue sky, noticing that a cloud obscured the sun and blocked out its light temporarily.

“Perhaps there is much you can do.” Then Weldir chuckled as he said, “Let’s hope I don’t consume you as we try.”

Then again, his soul would provide me with much mana.If Weldir were a trickster, he would have lured Rökul to his realm to consume him and the power he held.

Alas, he wasn’t that kind of being. And, surely, Rökul wouldn’t allow such a thing. He wasn’t even afraid of the possibility.

Rökul clapped his hands together and rubbed them as a mischievous smile curled his lips, making his lip piercings glint. “I’ve always wanted to peek inside that little stomach of yours. Tenebris, is it?”

For someone who was about to be swallowed whole, he looked a little too... excited. His smirk was almost creepy, even to Weldir.

Is this how Lindiwe finds me? Perplexing?

August 2nd, 1704

An icy chill stung Lindi’s nose, causing it to drip. Stifling the urge to sniffle, she kept quiet as she moved through the forest. The dawning frost had quickly melted under the early spring’s warmth, saturating the world in a dewiness that clung to the earth. Forest debris didn’t crunch under her boots, but she slowed to reduce the squelch of each step she took, and the suction that happened when she lifted off.

With a brown hood covering her head, the darker fur underneath kept the chill out. More fur lined her thick hide jacket, as well as padded inside her pants that were tied down to her thighs and her calves. Even her boots were padded, ensuring she could survive harsh, freezing temperatures.

Many years ago, such lengths to stay warm had been unnecessary.

Much had changed in the past fourteen years since she, in her heart, had said farewell to Nathair, even if she remained the same.

The distance between the Veil’s forest and the green coastlinesgrew smaller with every year, making the desert separating them smaller. Along with it, temperatures shifted rapidly.

The summers weren’t as scorching. They were ripe with flora to ensure more insects, more breeding grounds for animals, and more lakes and rivers that didn’t dry up under the unbearable heat. The red dusty soil became nutrient rich, providing plenty of food for all manner of creatures and plants.

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